Aaron and Sara Starwalt had always called the Felida / Salmon Creek area home, but when the opportunity arose to build in the highly sought-after Ashbury community, they knew it was time to create their forever home.
After discovering a previously built Kingston Home online, the connection was immediate—and personal. Having known Kingston Homes LLC through prior relationships, the process began with trust and quickly evolved into a truly collaborative experience.
“The opportunity to have a forever home. Our older daughters were out of the house, and we thought, okay, the neighborhood’s right, the floor plan we love, so we figured this one, we’d get it how we want it and never leave.”
Like many homeowners considering custom construction, there was initial hesitation: Would the process be difficult? Would there be unexpected challenges?
Their experience proved otherwise. “The entire process… we kept waiting for something to go wrong—and it never did.”
From start to finish, the build remained on schedule, communication was clear, and the experience was far from the “nightmare” many anticipate with custom home construction.
Unlike their previous new construction experience with limited options, Kingston Homes delivered a fully personalized design process.
“Whether you know what you’re doing or not, they make it so easy. I feel like it was a very collaborative process. The whole team I just felt was an extension of what I wanted to see happen. Part of a vision, it was a shared experience, I felt like.”
Every step was intentional, supported, and tailored—creating a home that truly reflects their vision.
A consistent highlight throughout their journey was Kingston’s responsiveness and attention to detail. “If I had a question… I always got a quick response. It made us confident in what we were doing.”
The team at Kingston Homes operated as an extension of their vision—collaborative, accessible, and committed.
From expansive interiors to intentional outdoor spaces, their home was designed to enhance everyday living.
Even areas of uncertainty—like landscaping—were transformed into standout features through Kingston’s design expertise.
“Even when the house was built, it was still just a slope to the last few weeks…we didn’t really have a vision for it at all… we couldn’t see what was going to happen. Chris and Tom said what we’re going to do…. we could not have dreamed it would turn out like this.”
From architectural elements to interior finishes, the home speaks for itself.
“I walk in and it just feels like home—it’s beautiful on its own. It’s just beautiful structurally, architecturally, there’s not a lot that I had to put on the walls or had to add a lot of decor”
Even minor imperfections were proactively addressed: “They had already ordered replacements… they made it perfect.”
Beyond the home itself, the Ashbury neighborhood lifestyle has been an added benefit—complete with walkability, community interaction, and proximity to local amenities.
The Salmon Creek Greenway Trail is only 2 blocks away. There are views of Mount St. Helens from many sections of the neighborhood and much of Ashbury borders Foley Park, a 2-acre orchard and dog park owned by Clark County Parks.
For Aaron and Sara, the decision is simple: “If I was going to give somebody advice about building a custom home, whether they are confident, or wanting to build but have no idea how to build, I’d send them to Kingston.”
Kingston Homes LLC is an award-winning Southwest Washington home builder specializing in luxury custom homes. For over a decade, we have developed thriving communities throughout the Vancouver Metro Area, including Ridgefield, Felida, Camas, Washougal, and Salmon Creek.
If you’d like to learn more about building a custom home with us or one of our communities, feel free to contact us here.